Friday, January 17, 2025
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Israeli cabinet to vote Hamas deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed by Israel’s negotiation team that agreements have been reached on a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, his office said in a statement early Friday local time. Families of the hostages held by the militant group were also briefed on the agreements.
Netanyahu expressed his appreciation to the team “and all those who assisted,” the office said. The Israeli prime minister on Thursday accused Hamas of “reneging” on parts of the agreement, leading to a delay in the Israeli cabinet meeting scheduled to vote on the deal, which requires approval from both the cabinet and Israel’s coalition government.
The security cabinet is now set to meet Friday, and the government will later convene to approve the deal, Netanyahu’s office said. But there is still opposition from the far-right partners in Netanyahu’s coalition, who reject the idea of a truce with Hamas and have threatened to topple his government.
On Thursday, Netanyahu’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, warned that if the deal were approved, he and his faction would withdraw from Netanyahu’s government. That move alone would not bring down Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, though other parties could follow Ben Gvir’s lead, according to Israeli media reports.
A senior Hamas official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told The Washington Post that the parties reached a final agreement early Friday for the first phase of the ceasefire after hours of negotiations.
If implemented Sunday, the deal would bring relief to a battered and hungry population in Gaza, as well as to the captives taken from Israel and held in the enclave for more than 15 months. The agreement is expected to start with a 42-day ceasefire in which the Israeli military would withdraw from some areas of Gaza, accompanied by a surge of aid into the Gaza Strip, as well as an exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, according to President Joe Biden.
The next phase, which is still being negotiated, would bring the release of all hostages, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.⍐
The Washington Post 16-01-2025
China and Sri Lanka issue joint statement
China and Sri Lanka issue joint statement post-successful visit of President AKD to Beijing
Friday, 17 January 2025 Daily FT
At the invitation of Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China from January 14 to 17, 2025.
During the visit, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held talks with President Xi Jinping, and met with Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the two sides had in-depth exchanges of views and reached extensive common understandings on deepening traditional friendship and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and multi-sectoral practical cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, and on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Fine example of friendly interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation
The two sides share the view that China and Sri Lanka have consistently respected each other, treated each other as equals and stood by each other over the 68 years of diplomatic ties, and set a fine example of friendly interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes. The two sides agreed to carry forward the spirit of independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual assistance enshrined in the Rubber-Rice Pact, follow the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual support, win-win cooperation and common development, stay committed to deepening the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship, and jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future, to bring greater benefits to the two countries and peoples.
The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of close high-level exchanges to keep the strong strategic guidance by the leaders of the two countries over bilateral relations, to further strengthen bilateral exchanges between the two Governments, legislative bodies and political parties to consolidate political mutual trust and share and learn from each other’s governance and development experience, and make dedicated efforts to enhance China-Sri Lanka relations.
Both sides reaffirmed mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns. Both sides reaffirm the authority of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and Sri Lanka reaffirmed its strong commitment to the one-China principle, recognising that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Sri Lanka firmly supports all efforts by the Chinese Government to achieve national reunification, and opposes “Taiwan independence” in any form. Sri Lanka reiterated that it will never allow its territory to be used for any anti-China, separatist activities and will firmly support China on issues related to Xizang and Xinjiang.
China reiterated that it will continue to firmly support Sri Lanka in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will respect and support Sri Lanka in independently choosing a development path suited to its national conditions. The Chinese side reiterated its commitment to an independent foreign policy of peace. Sri Lanka reiterated its commitment to an independent non-aligned foreign policy.
China congratulated Sri Lanka on successfully holding presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024, expressed its good wishes for the new Sri Lankan Government to take the Sri Lankan people forward in economic and social development, unity, stability and prosperity, and conveyed its readiness to provide active support as the Sri Lankan Government works to promote the sustainable development of the country. Sri Lanka commended the remarkable achievements China made in the new era, and expressed support for China to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through the Chinese path to modernisation. Sri Lanka believes that China’s drive to further deepen reform comprehensively and promote high-standard opening up will bring new opportunities for Sri Lanka’s economic advancement.
News First- Input ENB
To advance all major signature projects
Under the guidance and encouragement of leaders of both countries, China and Sri Lanka have produced fruitful outcomes in Belt and Road cooperation. Sri Lanka appreciates the important role of Belt and Road cooperation in its economic and social development and the livelihood of its people. The two sides agreed to advance all major signature projects including the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port integrated development, fully utilise such platforms as the Silk Road Workshop and carry out more livelihood programs in Sri Lanka in accordance with the principles of planning together, building together and benefiting together, open, green and clean cooperation, and high-standard, people-centred and sustainable development and following the eight major steps announced by President Xi Jinping for supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
The two sides were pleased to sign a Belt and Road cooperation plan to upgrade China-Sri Lanka high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and jointly open up new space for win-win development of higher standard, stronger resilience and greater sustainability.
Sri Lanka expressed its high appreciation for the valuable support it has received from China in times of financial difficulties, including the vital assistance in restructuring China-related debts, which was a robust support for Sri Lanka in effectively dealing with the debt issue. Sri Lanka expressed its desire for the early implementation of the agreed debt restructuring plan together with Chinese financial institutions. China will continue to play a positive role in the International Monetary Fund and maintain friendly communication with other creditors to help Sri Lanka ease its financial difficulties and achieve debt sustainability. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China have renewed their currency swap agreement and will continue to carry out financial cooperation.
The two sides are satisfied with the progress of bilateral cooperation in economy and trade. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation to China for its effort to promote import from Sri Lanka through various means. China expressed its readiness to continue supporting Sri Lankan enterprises in the tea, gem and other industries in establishing ties with relevant Chinese associations of importers and exporters, facilitate Sri Lanka’s participation in expos such as the China International Import Expo, China Import and Export Fair, China-South Asia Exposition and e-commerce platforms, and further enhance cooperation between enterprises of the two countries on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The two sides agreed to work toward the early conclusion of a comprehensive free trade agreement in one package in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Sri Lanka welcomes more business investment from China and will provide a conducive investment and business environment for this purpose. China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises in investing in Sri Lanka to facilitate economic transformation and sustainable development in Sri Lanka. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in such fields as logistics, green development, and digital economy to propel their high-quality and mutually beneficial practical cooperation.
The two sides shared positive evaluations of their wide-ranging cooperation and in-depth exchanges on agriculture. China conveyed its readiness to carry out training and demonstration programs with Sri Lanka in areas including bio-technologies for tropical crops, plant breeding and cultivation, and aquaculture to help Sri Lanka enhance its capacity for sustainable agricultural development; and welcome Sri Lanka to further expand its export of distinctive products to China, including tea, fruits, cinnamon, and aquatic products. The two sides shared the readiness to expand exchanges and cooperation with a sharper focus on poverty reduction and rural revitalisation. China expressed its readiness to help Sri Lanka strengthen the capacity of personnel in related fields.
Climate change
Both sides recognise climate change as one of the greatest challenges of human society and a threat to the sustainable development of developing countries including China and Sri Lanka. They agreed to work actively together on climate change. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation to China for its humanitarian relief in the wake of severe flooding. China expressed its readiness to enhance cooperation with Sri Lanka in such fields as disaster prevention and mitigation and emergency rescue, share its technologies and provide training in improving Sri Lanka’s emergency management capabilities. China welcomes Sri Lanka’s participation in the relevant activities of the Belt and Road International Green Development Coalition and other platforms as part of the joint effort to realise the U.N. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The two sides share the desire to continue maritime cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual trust, openness and mutual benefit, and hold regular bilateral consultations on maritime affairs. The two sides are ready to deepen cooperation in such fields as conservation and restoration of the marine environment and ecosystems, maritime domain awareness, maritime rescue and disaster relief, and maritime personnel training and capacity building, and pool their strength to build a maritime community with a shared future. The two sides agreed to sign Memorandum of Understanding on Ocean Cooperation toward Blue Partnership.
Deepen cooperation on education
The two sides are ready to deepen cooperation on education. The two sides fully recognised the importance of education exchanges for increasing understanding and friendship, and expressed readiness to further enhance exchanges of teachers, students, and researchers. China welcomes and encourages more committed students from Sri Lanka to pursue further studies in China, and is ready to continue to support them with Government scholarships. China will work with Sri Lanka to implement the Luban Workshop to good effect and nurture more professionals through vocational and technical training for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka appreciates China’s assistance in education, and will work for the success of the digital classroom project together with China. The two sides are ready to promote Chinese language education in Sri Lanka and continue to work through the China Culture Center in Sri Lanka to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. The two sides will continue to work in and develop the China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education and Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation and education in the universities and research institutes of the two countries.
The two sides are ready to carry forward their long-standing friendship and bring their peoples closer together. The two sides will take multiple measures to encourage mutual tourist travel and aviation connectivity. China welcomes more Sri Lankan cities in the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities. The two sides will continue to support each other in holding tourism promotion activities in China and Sri Lanka.
The two sides are ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as youth, think tanks, sports, and the media, build on the bond of Buddhist exchanges, and deepen people-to-people and sister-city exchanges.
China will continue to extend support for the development of the health sector in Sri Lanka. China’s Yunnan Province will continue to send medical teams to Sri Lanka to carry out the Brightness Action program.
The Chinese side commends Sri Lanka’s positive response to President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation and Sri Lanka’s participation in the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. China will further promote bilateral cultural heritage cooperation with Sri Lanka under the Alliance.
The two sides recognise judicial, law enforcement and security cooperation as an important component of bilateral cooperation, and stand ready to jointly crack down on cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud and online gambling. China is ready to do its best to support capacity building in Sri Lanka’s judicial, law enforcement and security areas and provide assistance of police supplies.
Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and actively participating in the development of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, which was just after the end of the Second World War. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to jointly upholding the international system with the U.N. at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. The two sides will adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and work toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for all countries in the world.
During the visit, the two sides signed cooperation documents, in the areas of agriculture, tourism, livelihood assistance, the media and other areas.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government and people for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Sri Lankan delegation, and invited the Chinese leadership to visit Sri Lanka. The Chinese leadership expressed appreciation for the kind invitation, and the two sides agreed to maintain communication via diplomatic channels.⍐
100 days no benchmark, Govt. on track to bring about change, says Public Security Minister
100 days no benchmark, Govt. on track to bring about change, says Public Security Minister
By Sandun Jayawardana and Damith Wickramasekara
As the subject minister holding the portfolio of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala plays a key role in the implementation of the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s ambitious agenda for the country. A close confidant of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Mr. Wijepala has served previously as his private secretary. Today, he holds the position of Chief of Staff to the President in addition to his ministerial portfolio.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Mr. Wijepala addresses a wide range of topics, including the government’s performance over the past 100 days, current and future challenges, the fight against corruption, reforms within the police, and controversies surrounding the ongoing ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
100 days of AKD presidency
Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala
While it is now more than 100 days since Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected president, it is less than two months since the new government was formed after the 2024 general election, Mr. Wijepala pointed out. “We never presented a 100-day programme. However, it has been mentioned in the media, in society, and even in Parliament, largely because previous governments highlighted such a benchmark in their programmes.”
He pointed out that the NPP won the election as a single party and didn’t need to make any promises to coalition partners since it was never a coalition. “Our accord is with the people. I would call it a bond. We have a responsibility to ensure that the hopes they had when they voted us into office are realised. We presented our vision to the people via our manifesto, ‘A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life.’ The people accepted this manifesto and elected us.”
A new political culture
While the NPP never presented a 100-day programme, it has nevertheless managed to affect several significant changes within the short period it has been in power, the minister pointed out. “For one, we have managed to change the political culture that prevailed in this country for the past 76 years,” he said.
“Politicians who were nurtured by this political culture never became people’s representatives who actually lived among the people. This is because the political class carried forward politics practised by the nobility. They did not do politics to make the lives of ordinary people better. They were in politics for themselves and enriched themselves and their families with the tools required to live a life that flaunted their nobility, from vehicles to bodyguards to luxury houses. That created a widening gap between the politicians and the people.”
Those who ruled the country in this manner eventually led it to bankruptcy, which was when the people decided to give power to a new group in the form of the NPP, said Mr. Wijepala. “We were able to change the old political culture within this short period and create those who are true people’s representatives in every sense of the word. They are not separate from the people. They live among them.”
Reducing rural poverty
With reducing rural poverty another main objective in President Dissanayake’s manifesto, the new government has already increased payments under the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefits scheme. It also recently announced an allowance of Rs. 6,000 for children from underprivileged families to buy school items and stationery. Given that there were accusations that the ‘Aswesuma’ scheme had not been fairly implemented and that many who qualified for Aswesuma benefits had been left out of the scheme, the government decided at the last Cabinet meeting to extend the Rs. 6,000 allowance to each child in government schools with less than 300 students, said Mr. Wijepala.
About 2.4 million out of about 5.7 million families in the country are still in poverty, being covered either by Aswesuma or the Samurdhi welfare schemes. As part of efforts to lift people out of poverty, the Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Ministry will soon launch a survey of families covered by these welfare schemes to collect information about the family members. Officials will look at aspects such as the qualifications and skills the father and mother possess, what sort of resources are available to them, the education level of their children, whether they have any vocational qualifications, etc. After conducting a thorough analysis of such factors, the officials will be tasked with devising a specific project for each household to help them out of poverty. The government will intervene to help them obtain capital to implement that project. It will also help them to find a market for their products so that they can obtain a good monthly income, the minister elaborated. “The hope is that the projects will succeed and eventually, they will move out of poverty and would no longer require welfare payments. We have already laid the foundation for this project.”
The government is also focused on developing the agricultural sector. “We have substantially increased the fertiliser subsidy from Rs. 15,000 per hectare to Rs. 25,000 per hectare. The ultimate objective is to make agriculture, which is currently a loss-making profession, into a profitable one. Several measures, such as developing seeds through seed production farms, agricultural mechanisation, and conducting more research are being planned to reach this objective.
Rule of law and the police
“We said to the people that the rule of law should be established. We cannot do that without extensive reforms to the criminal justice system,” said the minister. He added that most institutions in the system have become politicised and they must be made independent. With regard to the police, the government’s appointment of the present Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) is part of efforts to ensure that independence, he said. Moreover, for the first time in history, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is a female officer. Mr. Wijepala said he believes several more female OICs will be appointed soon.
He acknowledged that though it is the police’s responsibility to maintain the rule of law, many criminal acts carried out by the underworld and linked to the illicit drug trade have also occurred even after the NPP government was elected to office. “We are not prepared to boast that we have managed to control these activities. However, we are making efforts to stem them. We have already instructed the Special Task Force (STF) to identify police divisions where a large number of underworld activities are taking place and implement an operational mechanism to thwart them.”
The police have been made independent at the senior levels. However, a lot of structural changes must still be made to turn the police into a truly independent department, the minister said.
He also revealed that the government plans to recruit 237 Tamil-speaking graduates to the police to serve in the north and east. A separate gazette will also be issued for the recruitment of police officers to serve in the north and east, he revealed. “The language barrier is a major obstacle for people in the north and east when interacting with police. We want to make these interactions cordial and easy. It is with this intention that we are planning to increase the number of Tamil-speaking officers in the region.”
As the Minister of Public Security who oversees the police, Mr. Wijepala said he is working hard to ensure that acts of corruption a minority of officers are involved in are stopped and the department as a whole becomes more efficient. “This can’t be done by enforcing laws alone. We need to provide police officers with better facilities and also give them other incentives to perform. There are things we can do to this effect, such as granting cash rewards and bonuses to officers who successfully complete investigations.”
There are other issues affecting police personnel that the government needs to resolve, including matters related to promotions, allowances, and uniforms, the minister noted. Some progress has already been made in certain instances, he observed, pointing out that the government last month settled arrears amounting to Rs. 3 billion for the payment of outstanding food and accommodation allowances of police officers.
Clean Sri Lanka
‘Clean Sri Lanka’ is a flagship project of President Dissanayake and his government. “The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project aims to clean the entire system that has decayed over the years. This includes a social, economic and political transformation. Among others, it is about creating a citizen devoid of corruption, having a clean environment, and rescuing children and future generations from the drug menace. As such, the Public Security Ministry has a major role to play in this project.”
Referring to the controversy associated with the removal of certain modifications and accessories from vehicles as part of the project, Mr. Wijepala stressed that the government’s aim is to create disciplined drivers and save lives that would otherwise be lost due to road accidents.
On average, seven fatal accidents occur daily in Sri Lanka, claiming 7-9 lives. Thanks to renewed efforts of the police, there have been some recent days where not a single fatal accident was recorded, the minister said. For example, not a single death was reported due to a road accident on Christmas Day.
Authorities are focused on removing unsafe modifications and accessories that could lead to accidents, he added. The government had initially given drivers until January 19 to remove such modifications, but this has now been changed to an awareness and education campaign lasting three months. This is to educate drivers on the need to remove such unsafe modifications and accessories from their vehicles. No legal action will be filed against anyone over the issue during these three months. “We believe that eventually, the drivers themselves will voluntarily remove any unsafe modifications or accessories,” Mr. Wijepala added.
Passport issue
The dire shortage of passports was a crisis the NPP inherited from the previous government but which it too has struggled to control. Mr. Wijepala, under whose purview the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) remains, pointed out that the government has not been able to float another tender for the procurement of e-passports since the tender over the procurement of five million e-passports is currently being challenged in the Court of Appeal. The previous Cabinet had authorised the procurement of 750,000 machine-readable passports as a stopgap measure, with permission from the court. The current stock of passports is sufficient to last until September, the minister said.
From this week onwards, the number of passports issued on a daily basis has been increased from 1200 to 2500, he claimed. “We believe we will need a further 500,000 machine-readable passports, and we will call an open tender for that soon.”
Some 30,000 passports will be set aside for candidates sitting for the Korean language proficiency examination. A further 5,000 will be reserved for Sri Lankans residing overseas whose passports have expired. There is also a backlog of about 130,000 passports that are being cleared. Meanwhile, a special counter has been set aside at the DIE for those who need to obtain their passport urgently. For example, if a person has a job offer to take up in February but has been given a date in April to submit the application, he or she can go to this counter with relevant documents to obtain a passport before the travel date. “Though we haven’t solved the issue 100%, we have been able to manage it. We believe that it will be resolved soon,” the minister said.
Easter Sunday attack investigation
Investigations into the Easter Sunday attack have gone to a new phase since the NPP came to power. As part of this process, investigators hope to question Azad Maulana, a former aide to Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias ‘Pillayan.’ Moulana was the main ‘whistleblower’ in a 2023 Channel 4 documentary about the attacks. The minister said the NPP government has given a pledge to Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith to fully investigate the attacks and will honour that promise. “Not just Catholics but all Sri Lankans need to know the truth behind this attack. Our objective is to find all those responsible and bring them to justice. The investigation is now proceeding very well. The public will be able to see the results for themselves soon.”
NPP and JVP
On the relationship between the NPP and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mr. Wijepala described the JVP as the “nucleus” of the NPP. It was through the JVP that the NPP came into being. However, it is the NPP that has now formed a government after having contested under the compass symbol. “Many members of the JVP contributed immensely to this campaign, and many of them have now become ministers or MPs. There is no need to look at the NPP and the JVP separately. We have a vision, a plan, a programme and an objective. We are moving towards that objective. Some elements in the opposition are trying to make it seem as if there is a conflict between the NPP and JVP. This is false. We are working to fulfil the mandate given to us by the people.”
Rice shortage
The minister put down the shortage of rice and coconuts as a seasonal issue. “We can’t be blamed fully for such issues since we did not lay the foundation for creating them. Previous governments too imported rice. They gave away quotas to associates to import rice. This time, however, not a single rupee is going to anyone’s pocket. The rice is being imported at the lowest price, and we are being fully transparent about the process.”
He said the government plans to gradually move away from rice imports by making the country self-sufficient in rice. “To do that, however, we need to have at least a three-month buffer stock of rice.”
Local government elections
The government expects that the Election Commission will hold the long-delayed local government elections before the National New Year in April. Legislation paving the way to call for fresh nominations for the election and cancel the previous nomination lists has already been presented to Parliament. “There is no point in going by the previous lists anymore since some parties have splintered into factions. Some candidates have passed away while others have gone overseas. Moreover, some young people who would have been 16 and, as such, ineligible to contest at the time the previous nomination lists were submitted, have now turned 18, and there might be those among them who wish to contest the election,” the minister explained.
He expressed confidence that voters will once again back the NPP at the upcoming local polls as well, allowing the government to set up local government bodies, which will also play a crucial role in making the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme a success.⍐
Ceasefire agreed, analysis shows what remains in Gaza
Graphics
Ceasefire agreed, analysis shows what remains in Gaza
Negotiators reached a deal on Wednesday (15/01) for a ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, after 15 months of conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and inflamed the Middle East.
The deal, scheduled to be implemented from Sunday, (19/01) outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Hostages taken by militant group Hamas, which controls the enclave, would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
After more than a year of intense arial bombardment and a ground offensive by Israeli forces against Hamas militants, the toll on infrastructure within the Gaza Strip has been cataclysmic. According to an analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data, as much as 60% of all buildings in Gaza have been likely damaged or destroyed.
The volume of rubble left behind is immense, and adding to the complexity of clearing it after the ceasefire is the large quantity of unexploded ordinance as well as risks from asbestos and other contaminants, especially in refugee camps, and the large number of bodies still lying in the rubble.
The World Health Organization said large amounts of dust released from destroyed buildings are releasing hazardous materials that float into the air or seep into water supplies, risking serious health problems for Gaza’s population.
Within the Gaza Strip, the highest concentration of destruction has been in the northern governorates of Gaza, an area Israeli forces ordered residents to flee in the first month of the conflict after encircling Gaza City, the enclave’s largest city before the conflict.
According to the analysis, as much as 70% of buildings in North Gaza and 74% in Gaza City are likely damaged or destroyed. Satellite images show widespread rubble and the ruins of structures in the area.
Satellite image: Sentinel-2 L2A, January 4, 2025. With the planned ceasefire days away, violence in Gaza continued on Thursday. Israel airstrikes killed at least 70 people in Gaza overnight, residents and authorities in the enclave said, hours after the ceasefire deal was announced.
Correction
An earlier version of the leading Gaza Strip map included some small areas with damaged buildings that were not indicated to have them in the analysis. It has been corrected.
Sources
Damage analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher of CUNY Graduate Center and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. Analysis includes damage between Oct. 12, 2023, and Jan. 11, 2025.
Edited by
Jon McClure
இரண்டாம் டிரம்ப் ஆட்சியின் உலக விவகாரக் கொள்கை- (வீடியோ ஆங்கிலம்)
Defending Taiwan 'critical,' says Rubio at U.S. Senate hearing
Washington, Jan. 15 (CNA) Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, said during his Senate nomination hearing on Wednesday that defending Taiwan against China was "critical" for the United States.
"We reject any effort to coerce, intimidate and or forcibly drive Taiwan to do whatever China wants them to do," Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which expressed bi-partisan support for his nomination.
The Republican Senator from Florida since 2011 is on track to become his country's top diplomat as leader of the U.S. State Department under Trump's second administration, which is set to formally start on Monday.
At the Senate hearing, Rubio said that China needs to "stop messing around with Taiwan" and vowed to continue the United States' "one China" policy, which he said had been "consistent and reaffirmed by every administration since 1979."
According to the presumptive nominee for secretary of state, the U.S.' China policy, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, means that Washington would "make no commitment to not helping" Taiwan defend itself and would not "force any outcomes."
"We're not going to pressure Taiwan in any arrangement," he said.
Referring to Beijing's efforts to isolate Taiwan from the international community, Rubio also said it was "important" for the United States to enable Taiwan's involvement in global forums "irrespective" of China's claims over Taiwan.
Rubio expressed his strong support for Taiwan to apply a "porcupine strategy" and suggested that making "the cost of invading Taiwan higher than the benefit" could deter Chinese aggression.
During the nomination hearing that lasted around four hours, Rubio promised to uphold the "unmistakable mandate" from the U.S. electorate for a "strong America" that was "engaged with the world."
In interactions with senators that centered on Washington's relationship with Beijing, Rubio called China "the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted" and "the threat that will define this century."
Presiding over the nomination hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch said that China was "the most significant long-term risk to the United States" and that Washington must work with its allies in Asia, including Taiwan, "to boost their military spending and bolster their ability to deter China."
After his nomination formally clears the Senate floor, Rubio will replace Antony Blinken as head of the U.S. State Department, which manages the superpower's foreign relations.
The son of Cuban immigrants, the 53-year-old Miami-born senator has consistently voiced opposition to communism and supported policies to counter China, which claims Taiwan as a part of its territory despite having never ruled the island.⍐
(By James Thompson and Chung Yu-chen) Enditem/ASG
Taiwan's 2025 economic growth forecast at 3.22% amid Trump presidency uncertainty
Taiwan's 2025 economic growth forecast at 3.22% amid Trump presidency uncertainty
01/16/2025 Forcus Taiwan
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| Chung-Hua Institution Economic Research (CIER) members. (Photo: Rti) |
Taipei, Jan. 16 (CNA) Taiwan's economy is expected to grow 3.22 percent in 2025, according to the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research's (CIER) forecast released Thursday.
The institution's forecast was lower than its estimate of 4.3 percent growth for 2024, due to a higher base and rising global economic uncertainty, said CIER, one of Taiwan's leading think tanks. Final figures for 2024 have not yet been released.
At the 2025 Economic Outlook Forum held by the institution, CIER said one of the biggest uncertainties is U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's policies.
CIER President Lien Hsien-ming (連賢明) said there were four main things to look out for in terms of tariffs.
- The first is whether they are launched immediately, as Trump previously claimed.
- The second is whether the full tariffs will be implemented immediately or gradually increased;
- and the third is whether the tariffs will be universal or differ among countries.
- Lastly, as Taiwan's exports are primarily in information technology and largely tax-exempt, it will be crucial to monitor whether Trump decides to impose taxes on them, Lien said.
Despite the uncertainty, CIER was cautiously optimistic about Taiwan's economic outlook and said the 3.22 percent growth will come from both increasing overseas trade and demand in the domestic market.
Product and service exports are predicted to grow 5.56 percent, with private investments expected to rise 4.71 percent.
As for inflation, CIER predicted the consumer price index (CPI) to be 1.93 percent in 2025, lower than the 2 percent alert -- as long as utility rates do not increase.
Hsu Chien-ting (徐千婷), chief economist of Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding Co., Ltd., said artificial intelligence (AI) will still be the dominant trend.
As Taiwan is the "core of the core" of AI, demand will lead to investments and exports, bolstering Taiwan's economy, she said.
On that note, CIER pointed out that the U.S. has been restricting exports of products like AI chips, and while Taiwan's chips are not restricted, exports to countries that are may be impacted.
On the other hand, other products relevant to AI and high-performance computing (HPC) face increasing demand and exports are expected to continue growing, CIER added.
Meanwhile, Lin Chi-chao (林啟超), chief economist at Cathay United Bank, said Trump is waging a "technology war" under the guise of a tariff war to create a gap between U.S. and Chinese technology.
The U.S. has already started trade investigations into China's mature process chips, due to global concern that China's production capacity for these chips could increase significantly, posing a serious challenge to production in other countries, Lin said.⍐
AKD Govt. reaffirms Sri Lanka’s ‘One China Policy’
BEIJING (AP) — Sri Lanka and China signed a series of cooperation agreements on Wednesday following talks between their leaders, one month after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made India his first overseas trip since winning election last September.
The support of the two regional powerhouses — and rivals — is crucial for Sri Lanka to emerge from its worst economic crisis in decades, which led to political upheaval and paved the way for Dissanayake to come to power.
China was once seen as having the upper hand in Sri Lanka through its huge loans and infrastructure investments. While China remains the country’s largest bilateral lender, Sri Lanka’s economic collapse provided an opening for India, which stepped in with massive financial and material assistance including food, fuel and medicines.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in opening remarks to Dissanayake, said that relations between their countries are at a historical juncture.
“I am willing to work with you, Mr. President, to chart a new vision for the development of bilateral relations and promote new and greater achievements in China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation,” Xi said.
Sri Lanka borrowed heavily from China over the past decade for projects including a shipping port, airport and a city being built on reclaimed land. The projects failed to earn enough revenue to pay off the loans, and Sri Lanka leased the port in Hambantota to a state-owned Chinese company in 2017.
Dissanayake said China remains a key partner that has supported important development under its Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Xi to construct roads, ports, power plants and other infrastructure overseas. The initiative has helped China deepen its ties in much of the developing world.
For years, China has been trying to expand its influence in Sri Lanka, an island off India’s southeast coast that the government in New Delhi considers part of its strategic backyard. The Indian navy launched a submarine and two warships at a state-run shipyard on Wednesday with an eye on China’s presence in the Indian Ocean.
Marxist-leaning Dissanayake’s visit to the Chinese capital can be seen as an effort to navigate the rivalry between India and China, which his party traditionally has leaned toward.
In New Delhi last month, Dissanayake met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he would not allow Sri Lanka to be used in “a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India.”
The agreements between Sri Lanka and China covered a range of areas, including economic and technological development, health inspections for food imports and TV broadcasting and other media cooperation.
Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and suspended payments on $83 billion in domestic and foreign loans as a foreign exchange crisis led to severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, along with hourslong power cuts.
China’s support is vital for Sri Lanka to restructure its external debt. China accounts for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s loans, more than Japan or the Asian Development Bank.
The country’s crisis was largely the result of economic mismanagement combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with terrorist attacks in 2019 devastated its tourism industry. The pandemic also disrupted the flow of money sent home by Sri Lankans working abroad.
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சீனப் பயணத்துக்கு ஒரு வாரம் முன் அநுரா ஆட்சி முடிவெடுத்து அறிவித்த விடயங்கள்:
‘Taiwan is only a province of China,’ affirms Sri Lanka
The cabinet reaffirmed Colombo's commitment to the 'One China Policy' ahead of Dissanayake's visit to Beijing
Jan 8, 2025 Tamil Guardian
The Sri Lankan government re-affirmed its support for the ‘One China Policy’ in a cabinet decision this week, ahead of Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China next week.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet agreed to the proposal put forward by foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath to continue abiding by the policy, a move thought to be a gesture that will strengthen bilateral ties between Beijing and Colombo.
“It is accepted that legitimate China is only the People’s Republic of China and, Thaiwan is only a province of China,” read the Sri Lankan decision.
In addition, the cabinet approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said it was one of multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions that were approved* this week.
These include;
1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China
2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China
3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China
4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group
5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group
 |
| Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa |
AKD Govt. reaffirms Sri Lanka’s ‘One China Policy’*
- Cabinet green lights multiple key agreements with China including boosting tourism and export of chicken meat from Sri Lanka
Wednesday, 8 January 2025 Daily FT
Sri Lanka this week reiterated commitment to the ‘One China Policy’, whilst Cabinet of Ministers approved a series of new agreements with China.
The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the continuation of ‘One China Policy’ recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate Government of China and acknowledging Taiwan is only a province of China.
The fact furnished by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath indicating that Sri Lanka further follows the same policy as it is and act adhering to the same was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
In addition, as part of strengthening bilateral relations, the Cabinet of Ministers approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the China Media Group and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday announcing the decisions said the move aims to elevate Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination for Chinese tourists by leveraging modern technology and expertise of the China Media Group.
Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, he said additionally the Cabinet endorsed a proposal to facilitate the export of chicken from Sri Lanka to China.
“The agreement drafted in collaboration with China’s General Administration of Customs, outlines health requirements and quarantine procedures to ensure compliance with export standards,” Dr. Jayatissa said.
The proposal to this effect submitted by Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister Lal Kantha to sign the said agreement between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry was unanimously approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday.
In humanitarian efforts, Dr. Jayatissa stated that the Chinese Government has provided emergency aid worth 35.7 million Yuan to support small-scale fishermen in Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Cabinet of Ministers formally certify this aid and further enhance cooperation in the sector.
The assistance includes 75,000 fisheries nets for small scale and low income generating fishermen, 500 precast houses for small scale and low income generating fishermen and 1,630 tons of rice for small scale and low income generating fishermen.
In addition, Dr. Jayatissa said Cabinet granted approval for multiple MoUs between Sri Lankan and Chinese institutions to foster collaboration in health, media and information sectors.
These include; 1) MoU between the Health and Mass Media Ministry and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of the People’s Republic of China, 2) MoU between the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd., and Xinhua News Agency of China, 3) Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of Government Information and Xinhua News Agency of China, 4) MoU between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and China Media Group and 5) MoU between Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and China Media Group.
The proposal to this effect submitted by Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Jayatissa said the pact aims to enhance knowledge exchange and technical expertise.⍐
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தமிழகம் வாழ் ஈழத்தமிழர்களை கழகக் கண்டனப் பொதுக்கூட்டத்தில் கலந்து கொள்ளக் கோருகின்றோம்! -
சமரன்: தோழர்கள் மீது எடப்பாடி கொலை வெறித்தாக்குதல், கழகம்...
